Before the IU home game, Purdue issues a warning about fake basketball ticket sales

West Fayette, Indiana – Before to Saturday’s home game versus Indiana, Purdue has issued a warning regarding bogus basketball ticket sales.

The Purdue University Police Department said on Tuesday that it is looking into many accusations of fraud involving the purchase of tickets for men’s basketball games at Mackey Arena.

According to Purdue PD, fraudulent tickets are frequently shared on the mobile group messaging service GroupMe. It’s possible that the fraud is also active on Facebook Marketplace.

Police have issued a warning about a scammer who sends a snapshot of an actual student’s ID card while posing as a Purdue student. The cards being used, according to the authorities, could belong to students who have previously been duped.

The bogus merchant then texts the prospective customer in an effort to win their trust, according to the police. They subsequently request payment online using Zelle and Venmo.

“We understand the demand for basketball tickets is extremely high right now, but we ask that those looking to purchase tickets remain alert and vigilant,” said Purdue police chief Lesley Wiete. “We recommend not purchasing tickets over mobile applications or from people you do not know.”

Make a call to PUPD at (765) 494-8221 to report ticket fraud.

A matchup between No. 17 Indiana and No. 5 Purdue’s men’s basketball team is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday in West Lafayette.